Pier 40 Rubiks CubeThat a new ad hoc committee of the Hudson River Park Trust is taking a fresh look at Pier 40 is welcome news. The effort is being spearheaded by two Trust board of directors members who live in the community, which is also a positive step, since we have long held that the Pier 40 process must be more grassroots, and that the best solutions  and likely the only solutions  will be those acceptable to the community.

Talking PointBig town, small town, it always seems the fix is inBy Carl R. Hultberg
In the North Country there is the town meeting. Citizens get together to conduct the towns business and generally shout it out. Of course everything that is important gets decided behind the scenes.

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Villager photo by Robert Kreizel

Salvation, not experimentationAt the Blessing of the Animals at Middle Collegiate Church on Second Ave. on Sunday, Ray, a 4-year-old guinea pig, with Becky Kellum, 12, was presumably feeling the spirit. For more photos.

Shades of Marco Polo as trek to historic district is completeBy Julie Shapiro
If the newly designated Chinatown and Little Italy Historic District had a mascot, maybe it would be Marco Polo.
The Italian explorer traveled to China more than 700 years ago, bridging a language and culture gap to teach each society about the other.

NewsRent ranters turn on Bloomberg, who didnt freeze hikesBy Patrick Hedlund
Tenants from across the city and elected officials gathered on the steps of City Hall to decry recently enacted rent increases for the citys 1 million rent-stabilized apartments  and chastise the mayor for refusing to support a rent freeze.

Politicians, enviro groups call for a drilling ban in watershedBy Albert Amateau
The state Department of Environmental Conservation last week issued an 809-page draft generic environmental impact statement, or G.E.I.S., proposing rules for extracting natural gas by hydraulic fracturing drilling in New York Citys Upstate watershed.

Demonstration vs. demolition in ChinatownBy Julie Shapiro
Former tenants of 128 Hester St. joined Chinatown activists to protest the demolition of their building last Wed., Sept. 30. The city vacated the building in August after finding it unsafe, displacing 60 tenants who are now mostly staying with friends and relatives.

Celebration of culture merits more than cult following By Scott Stiffler
Just as home is where the heart is, identity  whether its ones ethnicity, religion, temperament or occupation  is what we make of it. Of course, it helps to have a rich history to draw from; a cultural and moral compass to guide you on your way. But a compass only points you in the right direction. It doesnt work so well when you expect it to choose the right destination.

Kazan: Vilified namer of names, socially conscious auteurBy Trav S.D.
In the annals of Hollywood, no more polarizing figure exists than director Elia Kazan. Vilified by his peers for naming names during the Red Scare of the 1940s and 50s, he was at the same time one of the eras most significant directors.

Koch on FilmBy Ed KochA Serious Man (+)I enjoyed this unusual film (written, produced and directed by the Coen brothers) very much.The Boys Are Back (+)While not rising to the status of first rate, this film is interesting and worth seeing. Sportswriter Joe Warr (Clive Owen) lives in Australia with his second wife, Katy (Laura Fraser) and their eight-year-old son, Artie (Nicholas McAnulty).